This could reduce the contribution that trade makes to second-quarter gross domestic product.

Economists had forecast that the excess of imports over exports widened to -$40 billion from -$37.4 billion, according to Bloomberg.

America's trade deficit with China increased by $1.7 billion to $28.3 billion in May. The balance with the UK shifted from a surplus to a deficit of $0.3 billion, while the deficit with Japan fell to $5 billion.

The Commerce Department said it will introduce a new "advance economic indicators report" on July 28. It will combine new estimates for retail and wholesale inventories with advance estimates of international trade.